IC-rated fixtures are recessed lighting fixtures designed to be in direct contact with -- even buried in -- insulation. Recessed lighting fixtures used in new construction aren't always rated for this close contact; it all depends on what the fixture specification sheet called for the electrician to install. Determining whether the new construction lighting fixtures are or aren't IC rated is as easy as looking for the label affixed to the inside of the fixture. If your fixtures are in contact with insulation, make sure they're IC rated and replace them if they're not to avoid fire hazards.

1

Turn off the branch circuit breaker on the service panel that supplies power to the lighting circuit you will be working on. Use the noncontact voltage tester to make sure the circuit is safe to work on. More than one circuit might be running through the junction box where the light connects, so you might have to turn off more than one breaker before the box is safe to work in.

2

Disconnect the fixture wires to the recessed fixture. Access the wire connections by removing the light trim kit, the light bulb and the reflector assembly. In most cases the trim kit and reflectors merely snap off and out, but in some cases you may have to release spring clips that hold them in place. A simple visual inspection will show which type you have. Besides the label on the fixture, IC-rated fixtures will have fixture wires with "90 degrees centigrade" stamped on their insulation. Disconnect the fixture wires from the branch circuit wires by unscrewing the wire nuts in a counterclockwise direction. Once you have removed the wire nuts, you might need to untwist the splice with the electrician's pliers. In most cases the wires will separate as soon as the wire nuts are removed.

3

Remove the screw holding the light fixture's box to the frame and pull it from the ceiling. Loosen the clamping screws holding the nonmetallic sheathed cable in the box and pull it out. Reach up through the opening and locate the four screws or nails securing the frame to the ceiling rafters. Use the appropriate screwdriver or the claw hammer to remove the screws or nails. Pull the fixture's mounting frame from the ceiling.

4

Push the cable into the junction box on the replacement IC-rated fixture. Connect the black and white fixture wires to the matching branch circuit wires by holding their stripped ends side by side and screwing the wire nuts on in a clockwise direction. Connect the bare fixture wire to the bare branch circuit ground wire. Install the junction box cover and push the fixture up into the ceiling until the retainer clips snap out, securing it in place.

Things You Will Need

Noncontact voltage tester

Flat blade screwdriver

Phillips screwdriver

Long-nose pliers

Electrician's pliers

Claw hammer

Warnings

Never trust the light switch to protect you from electrical shocks. Always turn the power off at the circuit breaker panel when working on electric wiring.

Non-IC-rated recessed fixtures that come in direct contact with insulation are a serious fire hazard because the insulation allows heat buildup and inhibits heat dissipation. IC-rated fixtures are engineered to keep the heat from being transferred to combustible material around the fixture.

About the Author

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Jerry Walch has been writing articles for the DIY market since 1974. His work has appeared in “Family Handyman” magazine, “Popular Science,” "Popular Mechanics," “Handy” and other publications. Walch spent 40 years working in the electrical trades and holds an Associate of Applied Science in applied electrical engineering technology from Alvin Junior College.